Valve-pocket agitator



R. M. CONKLIN VALVE POCKET AGITATOR Dec; 11 1923. 1,477,246

Filed Jan. 27. 1922 INVENTOR leafierfM 60/719707 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, was;

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VALVE-POCKET AGITATOR.

Application filed January 27, 1922, Serial No. 532,107. Renewed Septemberll, 1922. Serial No. 588,280,

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. CoNKLIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve- Pocket Agitators, of which the following is a specification. y

The invention relates in generalto a device for dispensing measured amounts of substances in solid form, such as a powder, and the invention specifically relates to an improvement in the construction of such devices disclosed in my copending application, Dispensing devices, filed June 6, 1921, Serial No. 475,191. a

In the device shown in the prior application there is disclosed a rotatable valve for measuring prescribed amounts of thepowder to be vended and which powder was received in one or more pockets formed in the valve.

It has been found in such constructions that certain powders, such as malted milk,

were apt to stick in the valve pocket and this was especially true where the device was left inactive for a period of time, such as over-night, or under climatic conditions which were otherwise favorable to the caking of the powder.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a simple con struction for agitating the charge while it is contained in the measuring pocket and which will insure the removalof the substance in the pocket, even though it may have a tendency to stick.

Broadly, I attain this phase of the invention by mounting in the pocket of the revolving measuring valve, rotating agitating means which become operative simul taneously with the operation of the valve itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a valve agitating device of the type outlined a construction which will permit of the ready removal of the valve and its associated parts for the purpose of cleaning or repairing the same.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken axially through a preferred embodiment of the invention showing parts of theagitating means in elevation;

Figure 2 is a detailed view in elevation of the inner side of the rack carrying cap shown in section in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of jacent end of the measuring valve.

'In the drawings there is shown a casting 10, the upper portion of which constitutes a funnel '11, leading from a receptacle (not shown) for the powder to be dispensed and provided with a vertically extending passageway12terminating at its lower end into a discharge throat 13'. The lower portion of the passageway 12 within the casting 10 is designed in a. general cylindrical form to form a valve casing 14. A horizontally'dis the ad- 'posed. passageway 15 extends through the valve casing and is outlined at opposite ends by means of cylindrical bossestltl and 17. The inner ends of the bosses are smooth and constitute bearings for oppositeends of a cylindrical form of measuring valve 18. The measuring valve is provided intermediate its bearing ends 19 with a pair of meas uring pockets 20, 21, disposed 180 apart considered circumferentially of the horizontal axis of rotation of the valve. The pockets are designedoso that when one of the pockets such as the pocket 21 is opened to the funnelll, the opposite pocket 20 is in a depending position facing the discharge funnel 13. I i

The boss 16 is closed by means of a closure cap 22 screwed into the outer end of the boss and constituting an end bearing for limiting thev movement of the valve in one direction. The valve 18 is rotated by the rotation of a shaft 28 demountably secured to the valve by means of a transverse pin 24: and which shaft is rotated by the re-.

. it Will pass in close relation to the curved bottom 28 'ofits pocket and in this way scrape the bottom of any particles adhering to the valve. i.

For the purpose of rotating the agitator each wire is provided at the end adjacent the cap with a pinion 529 secured thereto and meshing with an internal rack 30 formed on the recessed inner face 31 ot the cap 22.

In operation and assuming that a charge of powder has fallen into the upper valve pocket 21 from the funnel 11, it will be understood that the movement of the lever 25 from the upper position shown in Figure 1 into its lowermost position will have the effect of rotating the upper pocket into the position occupied by the lower pocket 20 in the showing in Figure 1. At the same time the bodily rotation of the valve about its axis will cause the pinions at the ends of the agitator to revolve about the fixed rack, thus causing the agitators to rotate about their respective axis. The rotating and re volving agitators will thus loosen the material in the pocket during the period of time while the valve itself'is being rotated. By this means the powder or other material in the pocket will be agitated before the valve pocket reaches its lowermost, discharging position.

By means of a device of this character it is possible to vend malted milk and the like without sticking even though it may be caked in the valve.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a device oi the class described, the combination of a valve mounted for rotary movement and provided with a measuring pocket extending lengthwise of the axis of rotation oi the valve having a curved bottom, an agitator mounted for rotary movement in said pocket and about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the valve across the bottom portion of said pocket,

and a rack and pinion drive for rotating said agitator.

3. In a device for dispensing measured amounts of a powder, the combination of a valve casing open at one end, a measuring valve rotatably mounted in said casing, a

cap for closing said open end and provided with a rack, an agitating means rotatably mounted in the valve and including a union meshing with said rack whereby the rotation of the valve will simultaneously rotate the agitating means.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a measuring valve having a pocket exposed on one side, an agitator mounted for rotary movement in said pocket and including a wire bent out of the axis of rotation of the agitator to cause portions of the wire to revolve close to the bottom of the pocket-and across the bottom portion of the exposed opening and means controlled by the rotation of the measuring valve for causing the agitator to rotate.

5. In a device of the classdeseribedythe combination of a casing provided with an internal rack, a valve mounted for rotary movement about the axisof the rack, said valve provided with a measuring pocket and having Walls defin'ing'opposite ends of the pocket, an agitator movable in said pocket-and jonrnalled -tor rotary movement in said walls, a pinion at one end oi the agitator meshing with and revolving within the plane of the rack.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York this 20th day or, January, A. D. 1922.

ROBERT M. CONKLIN. 

